Round 7 Review

Round 7 in 2017 will always be remembered as the upset round! Six out of the nine games saw the underdog win none more impressive than the Kangaroos and Saints, the results over the weekend has thrown the race for the top 8 wide open again as has the all important race for the top 4.
Saint Kilda v GWS

A final quarter blitz from the Saints saw them assert themselves as a genuine contender this year if they can eradicate the goal kicking errors from there game. The Giants still not to be underestimated are a good side but have shown a few signs the last couple weeks they are still not quite there.

This was the big win the Saints needed while other teams around them staggered they too a step forward and give the, the confidence and belief they need going forward.

The Giants had plenty of ball winners with Shaw, Scully, Ward and Kelly but big Mumford was beaten well in the Ruck by Saints big man Billy Longer. It is the Saints even spread of players where they won the game no one player really dominates for long but everyone does their bit. When the Saints where down in the third quarter by 3 goals there was a feeling the Giants would go on with it but 10 goals to 3 for the remainder of the game saw the Saints run out comfortable winners. Jack Steven if not already is fast becoming one of the most important players in the league and while he may not have that Dangerfield type skill he impacts a game as good as anyone.
Best 3 votes Steven 2 votes Scully 1 vote Ross

North Melbourne v Adelaide

This was almost a flash back to the old days of footy bit of a stiff breeze top vs bottom and it was game over at 1/4 time after a 10 goals to nothing in the first quarter, the Crows…..wait what the Kangaroos where absolutely stunning in the opening stanza its left the Crows and indeed most the football world stunned with that performance.

The Crows fought well in the second quarter and got back within 42 points but there was no way the Roo’s where giving up this game the regained the control mid way through the third term and then just blew the Crows away for the rest of the game until the final few minutes when the Crows kicked a couple late goals.

Waite was at his best kicking 6 goals and the Kangaroos had 12 goal scorers on the day, Cunnington had plenty of the ball and Thompson down back held the Kangaroos defence together very well. Crouch,Laird and Douglas all busted their gut for the crows and picked up plenty of touches but their was not enough from others especially in the opening term and Don Pyke was a little out coached they should of tried more things to stem the onslaught.
Best 3 votes Waite 2 votes Douglas 1 votes Cunnington

Carlton v Collingwood

Carlton again spoil Collingwoods party it has happen on every major Anniversary of the Pies going back to 25 years! And don’t the blue bangers just love it!

Carlton’s back 6 are becoming very reliable and have managed now to keep their last two opponents under 80 points. Dales Thomas wound back the clock a little and put in one of his better performances for Carlton but it was Murphy, Simpson, Cripps and Curnow that lead the Blues to victory. Collingwood world beaters one week, pathetic the next the win over the Cats bought Buckley a couple weeks but more performances like Saturdays hi end might come sooner rather than later.

Take. Itching away from the Blues they answered every challenge, they played a god tough style of footy that frustrated Collingwood into making plenty of errors, if they can recruit well over the next 2 years the Blues are building into something good and Bolton as coach has been brrilliant.
Best 3 votes Murphy 2 votes Cripps 1 vote Simpson

Port Adelaide v West Coast

If the Eagles could choose one other ground to play at other than at home it would have to be Adelaide, this ground holds no fear for them and they play it so well.

The first half was a tight tough contest never more than a couple goals separating the sides but the Eagles always seemed to have the ascendancy every time Port challenged they had the answers. The start of the third quarter saw the Eagles build the match winning lead of nearly 6 goals and they where never headed from there. The Power made a push near the end of the third and got the game back within reach but the Eagles kicked the first of the last quarter to put the game out of reach. The Power never gave up but the Eagles kicked a couple goals when they needed to in the last to steady the ship and win by 10 points. Chad Wingard starred for the Power and Elliot Yeo continued his stellar season best for the Eagles.
Best 3 votes Wingard 2 votes Yeo 1 vote Shuey

GoldCoast v Geelong

Was a game of big Swings but the Suns held strong til the end to give the Cats back to back losses in one of the upsets of the round.

The highly fancied Cats have been exposed two weeks in a row by sides many consider to be also rans this season and will need to find the spark again pretty quickly with a game against the inconsistent Bombers this week, while the Suns will need to put up the same sort of effort this week to give the Power a run for their money.

The Cats jumped to an early lead and looked very silky smooth, but the Suns finished the quarter with 4 goals to take the lead. The Cats again started the second quarter well with the first 3 goals of the quarter before the Suns kicked 3 themselves to extend the lead again. The Suns pushed the lead to 5 goals in the third before the Cats came again getting the margin back to a goal and looking like they would go on with it from there but it was the Suns again who kicked the last 2 goals of the quarter to give them some breathing space again. The final quarter was a carbon copy Cats getting back within a goal before the Suns ran away 5 goal winners
Best 3 votes Hall 2 votes Ablett 1 vote Duncan

Western Bulldogs v Richmond

What a game between two finals contenders the Tigers caught the Dogs napping in the first quarter and jumped out to a 6 goal lead, from there the Dogs put the brakes on the Tigers and ground their way back into the game by half time and where down by 3 goals. The second half saw the dogs get on top around the ground and get the game back to an even keel by the start of the last quarter, the Tigers fought back a little but the Dogs forged their way into the lead with a five minute burst with 3 goals. The tigers tried to rally late and got back within a kick in the final few minutes but the Dogs defence held strong, the big talking point has been the deliberate out of bounds in the final seconds of the game which snuffed out any chance the Tigers had to steal the victory. Jack Riewoldt did his bit as did Martin but again too many players went missing for long periods on the game. The Dogs are coming and continue to just run and run and it is a complete team effort that gets them over line, they only had two players that didn’t reach 10 possessions in the game.
Best 3 votes Dahlhaus 2 votes Martin 1 vote Hunter

Sydney v Brisbane

The Swans finally got their first win and is was as emphatic a win as you will find and it was on the back of Buddy Franklin’s 8 goals best on ground performance that got them the win. It was a fast starting Swans that took the lead early and it looked like the Swans of old as they jumped to a 5 goal lead by the first break. The Lions tried to stop the flood of Swans goals in the second but just couldn’t leg back any of the lead as teams exchanged blows for the next two quarters. Every time the Lions kicked a goal the Swans had a quick response and by mid way through the last quarter it looked like the Swans had finally broken the Lions back and had pushed the lead out to over 10 goals. The Lions kicked 3 goals in a row to add a bit of respectability to the score line but the Swans rubbed a bit of salt on the wounds with 2 goals in the last minute with Buddy launching from 55 out in the final second to give him his eighth goal.
Best 3 votes Franklin 2 votes Parker 1 vote Rockliff

Melbourne v Hawthorn

It was meant to be Melbourne’s statement game, a game to put themselves right in the mix come finals time, instead it was the Hawks who made a statement early with a smothering intensity in the first halve that left Melbourne bewildered. The Hawks jumped out the gates and built a 6 goal lead during the 2nd quarter and managed to hold this lead all the way to the half. Even though the Hawks where in front the game felt like it was on a knife’s edge the Demons have been strong finishers all year and they needed a big lift. It came fast and hard in the third term with the Demons piling on 7 goals to 3 to get right back into the game and gave themselves a big chance to go on with the victory. The last quarter was a real arm wrestle the Demons managed to get their nose in front before the Hawks kicked a couple settling goals, the Demons pushed right to the final siren and almost stole the victory but fell 3 points short.
Best 3 votes Mitchell 2 votes Viney 1 vote Lewis

Freemantle v Essendon

The good the bad and the ugly from both sides in this game, the Bombers started the better of the two with the Dockers looking almost lost for the best part of the first half and if it hadn’t been for some individual brilliance of Neale the game could of just about been over by half time, instead some wasteful play by the Bombers left the door ajar for the Dockers if they where good enough. They Bombers started the second half well and established a 3 goal lead from there the Dockers lifted Neale got help from Hill and Fyfe and the Dockers mounted their charge. Poor kicking again let the Bombers down but had managed to cling on to a 2 point lead at the final change. It took a long time for the Dockers to kick their first goal in the last quarter but once they finally did the Bombers folded a massive 6 goals 4 behinds to a solitary behind to the Bombers saw the Dockers run away easy winners by 37 points and have now won 4 of their last 5 knocking on the door of the top 8.
Best 3 votes Neale, 2 votes Hill 1 vote Fyfe